Flattus Maximus

Flattus Maximus
Flattus Maximus live on stage in Edmonton
Background information
Birth name	Cory Smoot (2002–2011) Zach Blair (1999–2002) Tim Harriss (1998–1999) Pete Lee (1992–1998) Dewey Rowell (1987–1991)
Genres	Thrash metal, Punk rock, Shock rock
Occupation(s)	Guitarist
Labels	Metal Blade Records, DRT Entertainment, Slave Pit Inc.
Associated acts	Gwar
Website	Gwar official site

Flattus Maximus is the name of a former character and guitarist in the American heavy metal band Gwar. He is known by his red face, white dreadlocks, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet. The name "Flattus" implies a flatulent character. His speaking mannerisms suggest a childlike intelligence and naivety.

The role of Flattus Maximus has been played by a number of guitarists. Dewey Rowell was the first to take the role. A sculptor nicknamed "Stretch" played Flattus in the scenes to the video "Gor-Gor". Pete Lee played it in This Toilet Earth. Tim Harriss portrayed Flattus during the 1998 Halloween Tour and for the recording of We Kill Everything. Zach Blair took over the role in 1999 for the recording of We Kill Everything and Violence Has Arrived. Cory Smoot took over the role in 2002. When Smoot died on November 3, 2011, the character was officially retired.

Very little about Flattus Maximus is explained in Gwar lore. Even his home planet is an uncertainty; in an interview conducted during a 1997 tour, Flattus (at the time portrayed by Pete Lee) explained his hazy memory was due to his notorious pot smoking, at which point he seemed to recall a planet named Pot (made entirely of cannabis) he once called home, but he ended up destroying it by smoking the entire planet out of existence. Although his explanation was never officially set in stone, it's one of many theories as to where Flattus really originates from. What is apparent, though, is that he is illiterate, has a slight Southern accent, and that he attributes his "explosive guitar style" to a strict diet of vegetarians, which also causes his infamous atomic flatulence.

Following Smoot's death in 2011 the band explained the character's absence by claiming that Flattus stole Gwar's spaceship to return to his home planet, 'Planet Home'.

The first man to portray the "armored clown" (taken from the pre-2005 web bio) was Dewey Rowell, who played on Hell-O and Scumdogs of the Universe. He left the band shortly after the "Tour De Scum" tape, and before America Must Be Destroyed, Gwar's third album, was recorded. Until mid-1992, after Gwar's Phallus In Wonderland was released, the Flattus Maximus character was absent. America Must Be Destroyed had all of its guitar parts (save two solos) played by Balsac the Jaws of Death. When playing those songs live, in particular "The Road Behind", it was typically Balsac, not Flattus, who played the lead.